For a Redskins win, here's what must happen Sunday against the Patriots

Ben Standig

11/03/2015

Few are giving the Redskins hope of handing Tom Brady and the Patriots their first loss of the season. For any hope, three things must occur.

Let's be honest here. Outside of Redskins Park, almost nobody believes the Redskins will beat the undefeated Patriots this week. Las Vegas oddsmakers installed Washington as 13.5 point underdogs, which is easily the largest point spread on Sunday's slate. The defending Super Bowl champions have Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski and Bill Belichick and lots, lots more incluing a 7-0 record plus home field advantage. The Redskins, even with improvements this year, enter the game 3-4. When asked Monday about the perception of the game turning into a route, coach Jay Gruden said, "You know, on paper, it looks like it."

However, two teams will play and the Redskins are one of them. Based on that alone, they've got a shot. Plus, as Gruden also noted, "They put on their pants just like we do. We’re going to go out there and compete our butts off and play.”

Beyond compete, I discussed three things i the video above the Redskins must do for a shot at handing New England its first lost since Week 17 of last season.